Original kayak building

What (materials) did the Eskimos build their kayaks with?

Very few trees grew in Greenland and most of the Arctic, so the Inuits scavenged driftwood. This was not a problem in Greenland, as the coast received a fairly constant trickle of driftwood that followed the ocean currents. They used skins, mostly seal, to sheathe their kayaks, and waterproofed them with blubber. Later, when contact with Europe was more common, they began to buy wood at the trading posts, and sheathed their kayaks with canvas.

Courses 2016!

The course calendar has been updated. Check out this year's kayak building classes:here